lEVVKEsJ WEST INDIAN ARCHEOLOGICAL DATA 263 



in the poll, which is bifid, or crossed by vertical ridges modified into 

 what looks like birds' heads, and various other grotesque figures. 

 These have no well-marked groove for hafting and many are too 

 large for practical use. The surface is rough ; none have the polish 

 of th'e petaloid, but many have incised figures cut on their surface and 

 some are perforated, the perforation being confluent with the edge, 

 making that region bifid. A very large number as well as a great 

 variety of these axes have been found in St. Vincent, and the form 

 occurs in other islands, but this ax is characteristic of the Lesser 

 Antilles. 



The theory that this form sometimes represents unfinished weapons 

 on account of their occurring in caches is interesting, but has not yet 

 been fully demonstrated. Their edges are not sharp enough to cut 

 wood or other objects, and there is no evidence that they were hafted. 



The forms of grinders or pestles distinguish at least two sub-_ 

 culture areas of the Antilles. Thus the pestles from the Haiti-Santo 

 Domingo area have elaborated heads, which are absent in those 

 from Porto Eico. The pestles of St. Kitts are as a rule conical with- 

 out decorations. The grooved pestles found in Guadeloupe are de- 

 scribed by Prof. Mason as blades.^" There are about 65 pestles in the 

 Guesde collection in the Berlin Museum. There is not a single pestle 

 with decorated head from that island, but a very large number of 

 grinding stones (or hammers). 



The most important difference between stone objects from the 

 Porto Eico-Santo Domingo area and the Lesser Antilles is the 

 presence in the foi-mer of stone collars, elbow stones, and three- 

 pointed stone idols, and their total absence in Cuba, Jamaica, and 

 the Lesser Antilles. We find, however, certain crude forms of three- 

 pointed idols in the latter islands, but the well-made, highly deco- 

 rated specimens are peculiar to Porto Eico and Haiti. These two 

 types seem to have been autochthonous in the Haiti-Porto Eico area, 

 and are alone sufficient to differentiate this area from all other West 

 Indian ^prehistoric cultures. 



The very natural desire to know the uses of these peculiar and 

 exceptional objects can not yet be gratified. There are many theories 

 of their use, and it is pretty generally conceded that they are zemis 

 or idols rather than badges of office or secular paraphernalia. Their 

 elaborate symbolism and variety of forms make tlieir interpretation 

 difficult. Their relative abundance connects them intimately with 

 some great desire of their owners and points to some widespread 

 want in the Antillean mind. 



» Among the grinders (pestles) in the Guesde collection figured by Prof. Mason as 

 " blades " may he mentioned figs. 119, 120, 121, and 122. Nos. 1.35, 136, 137, 139, 140, 

 111, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 14S. 149-1.'>7, 15.S, 150, and 160 are variously identified 

 as hammers and stones for various uses. The majority are, however, rubbing stones or 

 grinders. 



